The Giants have summoned right-handed pitcher Hayden Birdsong, a 2022 MLB Draft pick, to make his MLB debut on June 26, 2024. San Francisco makes the move amidst a rash of injuries to their rotation. However, Birdsong has done his part to earn this spot, as the former Eastern Illinois product was among the better strikeout pitchers in Double-A this season.
A Look at Birdsong
Giants pitching prospect Hayden Birdsong wasn’t among the top 250 players in MLB Pipeline’s 2022 draft prospect list. The righty wasn’t a well-known commodity. Birdsong was an Eastern Illinois product who put up strong strikeout numbers — 66 over 45.2 IP in 2022 — but shined in the Northwoods League during the summer of his draft year. The Giants, a team willing to go off the board at times, took Birdsong in the sixth round.
The pick, to this point, has worked out.
Birdsong struck out 149 batters over 100.2 IP in 2023 and went from Low-A to Double-A. With Richmond this season, the 22-year-old Birdsong struck out 61 over 48.1 IP and opposing batters hit just .188 off him. His 61 strikeouts placed him 20th in the Eastern League, even though he hasn’t pitched there since mid-June. The Giants righty made two starts with Sacramento before his callup, and he walked six but struck out 14 over nine frames.
Birdsong doesn’t have a high-carry fastball; it sat in the mid-90s with an average of 15.3” IVB while in Triple-A, although it can have some giddy-up on it. Birdsong also has a 79-81 MPH curveball that netted him a good amount of called and swinging strikeouts with the River Cats. It’s a pitch that a good shape and sharp horizontal break.
The 22-year-old will also break out a mid-80s slider and changeup, the latter of which he didn’t use as much compared to the slider and curveball.
Hayden Birdsong will make his MLB debut with the Giants on June 26.
Analysis
Birdsong is one of several young prospects who could become pieces for the Giants rotation. San Francisco already has Mason Black, recently recalled from Triple-A, and rookie Kyle Harrison on the big league roster. Carson Whisenhunt and Reggie Crawford, the latter of whom is being groomed for a relief role right now, are among the other arms on the way.
The righty’s got the strikeout stuff but the Giants need him now, despite the fact he’s only made two starts above Double-A.
The Giants currently have a lengthy list of pitchers on the IL. Blake Snell, Keaton Winn, and Kyle Harrison are on the IL, while Alex Cobb and offseason pickup Robbie Ray have yet to throw a pitch at the Major League level this season.
Fantasy Outlook
Armed with swing-and-miss stuff and on a team playing in a pitcher-friendly ballpark, Birdsong is an interesting option in the interim. Those who need immediate help might want to take a chance on Birdsong, especially with his potential as a good strikeout pitcher, but use him on a case-by-case basis.